Battery power sources

ABSTRACT

Electric apparatus including an electric battery composed of individually jacketed battery elements and a battery elements carrier of two or more compartments into which such battery elements are individually insertable side by side with all like terminals of such battery elements being on the same side in each compartment. A housing structure for an electric battery composed of individually jacketed battery elements has a lateral opening, and a battery housing cover preferably slideable on that housing structure over that lateral opening, with an electric lamp assembly on that housing structure and connectable to the electric battery in the housing structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a division of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/449,849, filed Nov. 26, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/229,915, filed Jan. 13, 1999, which applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The subject invention relates to battery power sources for firearms with target illuminators, and for other battery-driven appliances.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Battery power sources have been known for a long time, but there persists a need for improvement, as this disclosure will demonstrate. The same applies to battery-powered target illuminators in combination with firearms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Against this background, the subject invention resides in improved battery power sources and improved battery-powered target illuminators and other battery-powered appliances.

[0005] From a first aspect thereof, the invention resides in electric apparatus including an electric battery of individually jacketed battery elements each having an individual positive terminal and an opposite individual negative terminal. The invention according to this aspect resides more specifically in the improvement comprising, in combination, a battery elements carrier having a positive common terminal and a separate negative common terminal, with the individually jacketed battery elements being individually insertable side by side into that carrier, with the individual positive terminals of said battery elements oriented toward a first side of said carrier, and the individual negative terminals of said battery elements oriented toward an opposite second side of said carrier, and said individually jacketed battery elements being non-destructively individually removable from said carrier, and electrical circuitry interconnecting the individual terminals between the positive and negative common terminals of the carrier.

[0006] From a related aspect thereof, the invention also resides in electric apparatus including an electric battery of individually jacketed battery elements each having an individual positive terminal and an opposite individual negative terminal. The invention according to this aspect resides more specifically in the improvement comprising, in combination, a battery elements carrier having a positive common terminal and a separate negative common terminal, and first and second compartments between opposite sides of that battery elements carrier, with first ones of the individually jacketed battery elements being individually insertable side by side into the first compartment, with individual positive terminals of these first battery elements being at the same side in that first compartment, and individual negative terminals of such first battery elements being at an opposite side in that first compartment, and with second ones of the individually jacketed battery elements being individually insertable side by side into the second compartment, with individual positive terminals of these second battery elements being at the same side in that second compartment, and individual negative terminals of such second battery elements being at an opposite side in that second compartment, all individually jacketed battery elements being non-destructively individually removable from these compartments, and electrical circuitry interconnecting the individual terminals between the positive and negative common terminals.

[0007] From a further aspect thereof, the invention resides in electric apparatus including an electric battery of individually jacketed battery elements, and, more specifically, resides in the improvement comprising, in combination, a housing structure for that electric battery having a lateral opening, a battery housing cover on that lateral opening of the housing structure for the electric battery, and an electric lamp assembly on that housing structure apart from the cover and connectable to the electric battery.

[0008] The invention resides also in combinations and permutations of these different aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The subject invention and its various aspects and objects will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which also constitute a written description of the invention, wherein like reference numerals designate like or equivalent parts, and in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery power source in the context of a firearm, shown foreshortened in the back, with target illuminator, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a sectioned side view of the battery power source in or for the target illuminator of FIG. 1 or otherwise;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the battery structure as seen from the right-hand side of FIG. 2;

[0013]FIG. 4 is an opposite lateral view of the battery structure as seen from the left-hand side of FIG. 2;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a sectioned side view of an expanded battery structure according to a further embodiment of the invention useable as a power source in or for the target illuminator of FIG. 1 or otherwise;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another firearm with target illuminator and integral battery housing according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0016]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a battery power source in the target illuminator of FIG. 6;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a top view on an enlarged scale of a battery carrier according to an embodiment of the invention that may be used in the target illuminator of FIGS. 6 and 7;

[0018]FIG. 9 is a side view in section of the battery carrier taken on the line 9-9 in FIG. 8; and

[0019]FIG. 10 is a partially sectioned side view of a lamp assembly according to an embodiment of the invention useable in the target illuminator of FIG. 1 with or without the expanded battery structure according to FIG. 5, or otherwise.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020]FIG. 1 of the drawings by way of example shows apparatus 10 for firing projectiles 11 at targets symbolically indicated at 13 and for illuminating such targets.

[0021]FIG. 1 in particular shows a handgun, firearm or other elongate projectile-firing weapon 15 of a type that is well known in the field of military and other weapons production, and a target illuminator 16 that is integral with a fore-end structure 18.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the invention, the target illuminator 16 is located on the replacement or other fore-end structure 18 so as to be positioned in a first quadrant between a vertical plane (such as at a dotted line 12) and a horizontal plane (which extends at right angles thereto) longitudinally through the elongate weapon when the replacement or other fore-end structure 18 is on that weapon and such weapon is in its firing position, such as in the position shown in FIG. 1 for barrel 20 and sight 27.

[0023] The target illuminator 18 may then be in a relative position on the order of one-thirty to two o'clock on a vertical cross-section plane and relative to a midnight or noon indication 12, such as seen by looking in the direction of an arrow 19.

[0024] In this respect, indicating relative position in terms of a clock face is traditional in the armed forces and elsewhere, where a plane in space (in this case a vertical plane through the cross-section of the weapon's barrel 20) is considered to be numbered as a clock's face, with 12 o'clock considered as, in this case, straight up in vertical position, such as indicated in FIG. 1 by dotted line 12.

[0025] The relative position herein defined for the target illuminator 16 in effect is the position of that target illuminator's longitudinal axis which, as defined above, can be on the order of one-thirty to two o'clock in our indication of relative position.

[0026] According to the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention, the fore-end structure 18 for the weapon 15 is composed of two halves which in practice may be upper and lower fore-ends or fore-end replacements 22 and 23 of the kind of weapon 15 shown in FIG. 1. For instance, the fore-end structure 18 or fore-end halves 22 and 23 may be mounted on the so-called hand guard slip ring 24 and hand guard cap 25 of the weapon 15.

[0027] The expression “fore-end” as herein employed is, however, not intended to be limited in any technical sense. Rather, such expression within the scope of the invention is intended to extend to all kind of handguards and other covers of weapon barrels and the like.

[0028] A foregrip (not shown) which may be of a conventional type, may be connected to the fore-end structure 18 or lower fore-end half 23 at six o'clock (i.e. on the dotted line opposite of the numeral 12), as seen on a vertical cross-section plane through the elongate weapon from an end of that elongate weapon 15, such as by looking in the above mentioned direction 19.

[0029] The illustrated weapon 15 includes a weapon sight 27. In the illustrated embodiment, this is the front sight of that weapon. In practice, such a front sight is paired with a rear sight which, however, is not seen in the foreshortened view of FIG. 1 and is not of importance here.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the invention, the target illuminator 16 is laterally offset from a weapon sight, which in FIG. 1 is the front sight 27, but which within the scope of the invention may be practically any visual, optical, optoelectronic or other sight.

[0031] The angular offset of the target illuminator 16 permits the weapon user to see around barricades or other obstacles which tend to obstruct the target 13 and to have otherwise a clear field of vision enhanced by operation of the target illuminator. The target illuminator 16 preferably extends beyond the sight in a projectile-firing direction 29, which in fact is the case in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 after insertion of the lamp assembly 30 into a housing structure 31 of the target illuminator 16.

[0032] Housing structure 31 preferably is or is made in one piece with the fore-end structure 18 or its upper half 22.

[0033] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 has a switch 33 for the target illuminator on a back of that target illuminator 16 or illuminator housing 31. By way of example, such switch may be of a rotary type.

[0034] Alternatively or additionally, a switch 34 for actuation of the target illuminator 16 may be on the fore-end structure 18, such as on the upper fore-end structure half 22. An alternative or additional switch 40 for that target illuminator 16 may be at another side of that fore-end structure 18 or of its upper half 22. Preferably, the switch 34 is a momentary switch, providing the weapon user with instantaneous light control. Momentary switches are old as such and include the so-called tape switches used in weapon systems. Their construction typically includes spaced electrodes in a flexible enclosure which are squeezed together and thus brought into electrical contact with each other by the weapon user when energization of the target illuminator is desired through an electrical circuit including these normally spaced electrodes (not shown, since conventional per se).

[0035] On the other hand, the other switch 40 preferably is an ON-OFF switch that may, for instance, be actuated with the thumb of the weapon user. Such switch typically has a releasably continuous ON position which uses the target illuminator 16 in a less nimble manner than the preferably momentary switch 34.

[0036] Within the scope of the invention, the ON-OFF function of the switch 40 may in principle be performed by the switch 33 instead. However, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 prefers that the switch 33 be a target illumination enabling/disabling switch that permits the weapon user to positively prevent operation of the target illuminator, such as when preservation of absolute darkness is essential in cases where accidental actuation of the target illuminator, such as through accidental touching of either switch 34 or 40, would give away the weapon user's position to a dangerous criminal or enemy. Also, a disabler switch, such as at 33, is useful in preventing battery drain from inadvertent actuation of switches 34 and 40, such as by enclosures, bags or the like in which apparatus 10 may be temporarily stored or transported without removal of batteries 62 to 64 therefrom.

[0037] A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a power source for the target illuminator 16 on the weapon 15. FIG. 1 shows the power source 60 combined with the target illuminator on the weapon. In fact, the target illuminator preferably includes a compartment for such power source, which may be composed of the above mentioned housing structure 31 that may be manufactured for the reception of batteries for powering the target illuminator.

[0038] The target illuminator 16 also includes a part 58 of the lamp assembly 30, such as shown in FIG. 1, or of an alternative lamp assembly shown in FIG. 10, that is threaded into that housing structure 31.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the power source 60 comprises a battery 61 of individually jacketed elements 62, 63 and 64.

[0040] By way of comparison, a standard dictionary definition of the term battery in electrical terminology is “(1) a group of two or more elements connected together to furnish electric current, (2) a single voltaic element.” Definition (1) is the original definition of the word battery. Definition (2) came into use when single voltaic elements became individually jacketed. Such modern duality of usage is reflected in The New IEEE Standard Dictionary of Electrical and Electronics Terms, published by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (Fifth Edition, 1993), which provides the following definition:

[0041] “battery (primary or secondary).

[0042] Two or more cells electrically connected for producing electric energy. [Common usage permits this designation to be applied also to a single cell used independently. In this document, IEEE Std 100, unless otherwise specified, the term ‘battery’ will be used in this dual sense.]”

[0043] Contrary to such dual usage, the subject disclosure and accompanying claims use the term battery in the original sense to refer to (1) a group of two or more (primary or secondary) cells or battery elements connected together to furnish electric current. On the other hand, the subject disclosure and accompanying claims designate such cells as “individually jacketed battery elements” that are individually insertable into and non-destructively removable from the battery or battery carrier. This in contrast to multi-element batteries, such as the familiar lead-acid automobile batteries or certain multicell flashlight and other batteries in which the cells or elements are individually enclosed, but are not insertable into and removable from those batteries without destruction of a battery enclosure or similar structure if not of the cells themselves.

[0044] FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate an electric battery 61 of individually jacketed battery elements 62, 63, 64 each having an individual positive terminal 82, 83, 84 and an opposite individual negative terminal 85, etc. According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 and to some extent also in FIG. 5, the battery 61 includes a battery elements carrier 68 having a positive common terminal 70 and/or 87 and a spaced negative common terminal 71. Common positive and negative terminals 70 and 71 are shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 at opposite sides of the carrier 68. However, common positive and negative terminals may be on the same side, such as shown at 87 and 71, respectively in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0045] The individually jacketed battery elements 62, 63, 64 are individually insertable side by side into the carrier 68 or 168. The individual positive terminals 82, 83, 84 of such battery elements are at one side of the carrier 68, and the opposite individual negative terminals 85, etc., of these battery elements are at another side of that carrier. The individually jacketed battery elements 62, 63, 64 are non-destructively individually removable from the carrier 68. Electrical circuitry interconnects such individual terminals 82, 83, 84, 85, etc., between positive and negative common terminals 70 and/or 87 and 71. Within the scope of the invention as presently conceived, the individually jacketed battery elements 62, 63 and 64 may be electrically connected in parallel or in series.

[0046] By way of background, a widespread prior-art practice is to realize an electric series connection by arranging, for instance, the first and the third battery elements in the same direction, and the intermediate second battery element in the opposite direction, such as for series connection of the negative terminal of the first battery element to the positive terminal of the second battery element, and of the negative terminal of that second battery element to the positive terminal of the third battery element. While this would be within the scope of some aspects of the invention as herein disclosed, this would require the user of the weapon to be sure to insert the three batteries in proper alternating order for the desired series connection. Any mistake in this respect could seriously diminish the light output of the target illuminator 16 and/or could confuse and distract the user of the weapon through faulty operation, thereby frequently exposing such user to danger in hostile situations where reliance on the weapon and its perfect performance are of the essence.

[0047] The presently disclosed preferred embodiment of the invention precludes such danger by arranging the individually insertable and replaceable battery elements 62, 63 and 64 so that they have all of their positive terminals 82, 83 and 84 on the same side in the carrier 68, which, of course, means that they have all of their negative terminals 85, etc., on the opposite side.

[0048] In practice, this is a great convenience, since the user can quickly insert or replace the battery elements without needing to be concerned as to which battery element has to be inserted the opposite way from the other battery elements to make up the battery from several battery elements. Such a convenience can become a life saver when rapid restoration of a worn power source 60 through quick replacement of the individually jacketed elements with fresh elements 62, 63 and 64 is essential to the proper functioning of the target illuminator 16 and thereby of the weapon 15 and to the safety of its user.

[0049] Also, the side-by-side arrangement of the individual batteries 62, 63 and 64 effectively avoids the recoil-related battery damage encountered in “in-line” battery systems in which two or more individually jacketed elements are arranged mechanically in series, with positive and negative terminals of adjacent elements being biased against and touching each other. In the illustrated embodiment of this aspect of the invention, each of the individually jacketed elements 62, 63 or 64 is individually supported by current pickup contacts 66 that act as individual shock absorbers therefor. Such shock-absorbing terminals 66 for each of the individually jacketed elements are seen in FIG. 2 and again in FIG. 5.

[0050] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, all positive terminals 82, 83, 84 of the battery elements 62, 63, 64 are on the side of the positive common terminal 70, and all negative terminals 85, etc., are on the side of the negative common terminal 71. However, within the scope of the invention, the positive terminals 82 to 84 could be on the side of the negative common terminal, and the negative terminals 85, etc., conversely could be on the side of the positive common terminal. In either case there is electrical circuitry in the carrier 68 to interconnect the individual terminals 82, 83, 84, 85, etc., between positive and negative common terminals 70 and/or 87 and 71.

[0051] The illustrated carrier 68 is laterally open for removal and insertion of the individually jacketed elements 62, 63 and 64. By way of example, the battery element carrier 68 may have mutually spaced posts 72, 73 and 74 extending between and supporting opposite ends of the carrier that contain the common positive and negative battery terminals 70 and 71. These carrier posts may be electrically insulating, at least at the outside thereof. However, at least some of these carrier posts may be part electrically conducting and part electrically insulating. For instance, at least some of these posts may have a longitudinal electrical conductor 76 in a hollow-cylindrical electrically insulating tube 77 or similar insulation, such as shown for one of these carrier posts in FIG. 2. Such posts or conductors may accommodate fasteners 88 and 89 for holding together parts of the carrier 68 or even for completing electrical circuits therein, such as via circuit boards 102 and 112. Further current pickup or conducting terminals may be provided in the carrier 68, such as for battery terminals 82, 83, 84.

[0052] By way of example, where electrical series connection of the three individually jacketed battery elements 62, 63 and 64 is desired, at least two of the electrical conductors in posts 72 to 74 can be used to electrically connect these battery elements in series, even if they are mechanically arranged side by side in parallel. Once this principle of this aspect of the invention has been understood, suitable interconnections of battery elements through posts 72 (76), 73 etc., and interconnecting leads in circuit boards 102 and 112 in conjunction with carrier terminals 66, 67 and 68 such as shown in FIG. 2 can readily be designed or effected by an electrical engineer of ordinary skill using conventional technology.

[0053] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 provide at least one further common terminal 87 at least one of the sides of the carrier, such as at the side seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, and electrically interconnects such further common terminal with one of the other terminals, such as with the positive common terminal 70, such as through an electrical conductor in a third one of the posts 72 to 74. Within the scope of the invention, the third common terminal 87 may, however, be interconnected with any terminal inside the battery or with at least one of the individual terminals of the battery elements.

[0054] In this or any other manner within the scope of the invention, the battery 61 has a common terminal of one polarity, such as a common positive terminal 70 on one side, and a pair of common positive and negative terminals 87 and 71 on the other side of the battery element carrier 68. In practice, this has the advantage that at least one further accessory or other load may be energized by the battery 61, in addition to the load, such as a lamp 90 of the target illuminator 16. By way of example, a terminal connector may be provided in the housing structure 31 of the target illuminator 16 for connection of another load to the battery 61 via its common terminals 71 and 87. Such additional terminal connector is not visible in FIG. 1, since it typically would be located at the back of the housing structure 31. However, there may be terminals for switched and unswitched battery currents.

[0055]FIG. 5 shows a power source 160 which is related in conception and principle to the power source 60 of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Accordingly, like reference numerals are employed for like parts. However, to avoid confusion, some reference numerals in FIG. 5 are augmented by one hundred (e.g. 160 instead of 60, and the like) relative to their counterparts in FIG. 2, for instance.

[0056] Accordingly, the electric battery 161 is also composed of individually jacketed battery elements each having an individual positive terminal and an opposite individual negative terminal, and of a battery elements carrier 168 having a positive common terminal 70 at a first carrier side and a negative common terminal 71 at an opposite second carrier side and/or separate positive and negative common terminals 87 and 71 at the same side of the carrier.

[0057] The carrier 168 shown in FIG. 5 also has first and second compartments 91 and 92 between opposite sides of the battery elements carrier 168. Individually jacketed battery elements 62, 63, 64 (see FIG. 1), etc., are individually insertable and non-destructively removable from these first and second compartments.

[0058] In particular, first ones of the individually jacketed battery elements 62, etc., such as seen in FIG. 1 and at the left-hand side of FIG. 5, are individually insertable side by side into the first compartment 91, with individual positive terminals of these first battery elements 62, etc., being at the same side in that first compartment, and individual negative terminals of these first battery elements being at an opposite side in such first compartment.

[0059] Similarly, second ones of the individually jacketed battery elements 162, etc., are individually insertable side by side into the second compartment 92, with individual positive terminals of such second battery elements being at the same side in that second compartment, and individual negative terminals of such second battery elements being at an opposite side in that second compartment.

[0060] All individually jacketed battery elements also are non-destructively individually removable from compartments 91 and 92. Electrical circuitry interconnects the individual terminals between positive and negative common terminals 70, 87 and 71, such as via electrically conductive posts 76 and 176, 73 and 173, protected by insulating jackets 72 and 172, etc.

[0061] The first and second compartments 91 and 92 may be laterally open for removal and insertion of all individually jacketed elements 62, 162, etc. Such first and second compartments 91 and 92 may be in series between positive and negative common terminals 70 and 71.

[0062] A further common terminal 87 may be on the expanded carrier 168, and electric circuitry may interconnect such further common terminal with one of the other terminals, such as to provide different voltages and currents from the individually jacketed battery elements, or from any grouping thereof. By way of example, the additional common terminal, such as 87, may in fact be a common terminal for only one of the battery sections, such as for the section of battery elements contained in the carrier compartment 92. This is particularly advantageous if the power source 160 is to serve two different loads.

[0063] By way of example, different loads may include alternate first and second target illuminators or a target illuminator and a red-dot type or other battery operated firearm sight.

[0064] Of course, the batteries 61 and 161 as herein disclosed and their equivalents within the currently discussed aspect of the invention are of utility in fields other than target illuminators, flashlights and the like and may, for instance, take the place of many commercially available prior-art batteries.

[0065]FIG. 10 shows a lamp assembly 130 that may be used in, or in substitution of part of, the target illuminator 16 of FIG. 1, in a flashlight, or in another electric light source. By way of example, the lamp assembly may be used in conjunction with the target illuminator housing structure 31 shown in FIG. 1, but this aspect of the invention is not so limited.

[0066] According to the currently disclosed aspect of the invention, the electric lamp assembly 130 has a support structure 158, a bezel structure 94 on that support structure and a shock-absorbed reflector structure inside that bezel structure. Such shock-absorbed reflector structure includes a reflector 95 having a focal point 121, a first shock absorber, such as a helical spring 96, between that reflector 95 and the support structure 158, and a second shock absorber, such as an elastomeric annulus 97, between bezel structure 94 and reflector 95. An electric light source 90 has a filament or other luminous portion 98 on the focal point 121 of the preferably parabolic reflector 95.

[0067] In practice, high-quality light sources and illumination requirements place extraordinary precision on the coincidence of a point-like luminous portion 98 of the light source with the focal point 121 of the reflector, not only for the originally provided light source, but for every replacement thereof. In principle, conventional corresponding transverse and longitudinal luminous portion positioners at the light source and the reflector can be used for that purpose, such as in the form of a typically cylindrical socket 123 of the light source 90 in a corresponding longitudinal bore 122 of the reflector 95 and corresponding limit stops or shoulders 124 and 125 on the socket 123 and reflector 95. That as such, however, will not solve the problem of displacement of the filament/focal point coincidence through heavy recoil action during firing of weapons if the lamp assembly 130 is, for instance, used in target illuminators, or through other kind of shock actions, if such lamp assembly is used in other applications, such as in flashlights and other light sources of law enforcement or military personnel.

[0068] However, the currently disclosed combination of a shock absorbing suspension of the reflector 95, such as between shock absorbers 96 and 97 and the basically known transverse and longitudinal luminous portion positioners 122 to 125 or equivalent structure, does solve such problems and maintains the filament 98 or similar light point source in coincidence with the reflector's focal point. A lens or other transparent cover 99 may be installed in the bezel 94.

[0069] The limit stop 124 may be part of a terminal assembly including a spring 100 for connecting the lamp 90 to a battery or other electric power source.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 10, the first shock absorber 96 may be between the limit stop 124 of the socket 123 and the support structure 158, A lateral heat radiator 111 on at least one if not both of the support structure 158 and bezel structure 94 may be used to divert heat from the light source 90 and thereby prevent thermally induced displacement of luminous portion 98 and focal point 121 through warping of parts and otherwise.

[0071] A power source is connectable to the electric light source 90, such as through terminal spring 100 and through parts 158, 96 and 124, if electrically conductive. The support structure 158 may include a compartment for such power source and may, for instance, be hollow-cylindrical for that purpose. The lamp assembly part 158 may correspond to part 58 of the lamp assembly 30 shown in FIG. 1, and may be threaded into the housing structure 31 of the target illuminator 16, and together with such housing structure may provide an overall housing for the battery 60 and even for the expanded battery 160, if the part 158 is made sufficiently long for that purpose. The subject disclosure thus illustrates a system or method of making alternate first and second target illuminators for a weapon, such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, making a housing structure 31 for such alternate first and second target illuminators attachable to that weapon, such as via a dedicated fore-end structure 18 or otherwise, making different first and second batteries for the first and second target illuminators, such as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, jointly accommodating the first battery 61 with the housing structure 31 and the first target illuminator 16 including structure 30 or part 58, and alternatively jointly accommodating the second battery 161 with the common housing structure 31 and with the second target illuminator shown in FIG. 10, in substitution of the first battery 61 and first target illuminator 16.

[0072]FIG. 6 shows apparatus 103 for firing projectiles 12 at targets symbolically indicated at 13 (see FIG. 1) and for illuminating such targets. The handgun 115 specifically shown in FIG. 6 has a target illuminator 116, such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0073] The handgun 115 and target illuminator 116 may include a track-and-slide combination having for instance a slide 118 on the target illuminator 116 and a track structure 119 on the weapon 115 for such slide 118. Reference may in this respect be had to International Application PCT/US95/09471, filed Jul. 26, 1995 by Laser Products Corporation as International applicant, and John Wallace Matthews, one of the inventors herein, and published Feb. 13, 1997 under Publication No. WO 97/05443, and hereby incorporated by reference herein. Such international application in its FIGS. 2, 2A and 2C discloses attachment of accessories, such as target illuminators, to hand weapons by means of a dovetail structure alternatively described as a bayonet socket or any other mount. In this respect, and within the scope of the invention, the track structure 119 may be on the frame 225 of the weapon 115, such as by being machined therein during manufacture of the weapon, for example. FIG. 6 shows such track structure 119 on the weapon 115 in the sense of being attached thereto as an integral part of the illuminator-adapted weapon.

[0074] The track structure 119 in FIGS. 6 and 7 thus provides a pair of tracks at opposite sides of the handgun 115 or frame 225. The target illuminator 116 shown in FIG. 6 has correspondingly opposite slides at 118 which, as their name implies, are capable of sliding onto the track structure 119.

[0075] The weapon 115 also may have a component 104 traditionally known as its “slide” that customarily carries the weapon's barrel 105 and the typical front and rear sights 106 and 107, and that is capable of sliding on the receiver and frame 225 of the weapon. The slide 118 of the target illuminator 116, which slides in the track structure 119 of the weapon, is to be distinguished from the just described “slide” 104 of the weapon which slides on its receiver-frame 225.

[0076]FIG. 7 by way of example shows the track structure 119 removably attached to the weapon by means of a clamping device 219 which may be attached to the weapon's trigger guard 220, such as with the aid of a releasable clamp 221, as also seen in FIG. 6.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 7, the apparatus preferably includes a releasable slide-in-track stop 109 in or for the track-and-slide combination 117. As its name implies, such component 109 releasably stops the slide 118 of the target illuminator 116 in the track structure 119 of the weapon 115, whereby the target illuminator in effect becomes and remains part of the weapon, until it is intentionally removed therefrom, such as by manual actuation at 108. In this respect, such releasable slide-in-track stop 109 may include on or in the weapon 115, track structure at 119 or frame 225 a slot or stop 209 which may be releasably engaged by part of the slide-in-track stop 109 and the actuator 108 may be part of a latch which mounts such slide-in-track stop 109, such as seen in FIG. 7.

[0078] The apparatus may include a switch 110 for the target illuminator 116. Such switch may have an OFF position and an alternative ON position. In the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch 110 is a transverse shuttle switch; that is, the switch actuator at the lead line of reference numeral 110 operates transversely to the weapon 115 (e.g. in and out of the drawing of FIG. 6).

[0079] For best service to the marksperson or shooter, the switch 110 for the target illuminator 116 on its side preferably has an OFF position, an alternative releasably continuous ON position, and a momentary ON position. Switching devices which provide these three modes of operation are commercially available, and a block 113 in FIG. 9 is symbolic of such a switching device. By way of example, the transverse shuttle switching device 110 may engage an actuator 114 of that switching device 113, such as via a slot (not shown), so as to actuate that switch for the lamp of the target illuminator 116 between its ON and OFF positions.

[0080] By way of further example, the OFF position of the switch 110 may be the center position of that transverse shuttle switch. Such transverse shuttle switch may be actuated or shifted to its alternative releasably continuous ON position, by a finger of the marksperson or shooter. Such transverse shuttle switch alternatively may be momentarily actuated or oppositely shifted to its momentary ON position by typically another finger of the marksperson or shooter; with the expression “finger” being considered sufficiently broad to cover a thumb as well.

[0081] In this respect, the handgun 115 may have a trigger 226 which, as well known, is actuated by a bent trigger finger of a shooter. The transverse shuttle switch or other push-button switch 110 is mounted within reach of a finger tip or pad of the mentioned trigger finger when outstretched prior to actuation of the trigger 226.

[0082] The marksperson or shooter thus may actuate the target illuminator light switch 110 as he or she draws the weapon. In many practical situations, this provides the best and fastest light switch control without impairment of a quick draw.

[0083] Additionally or alternatively, an electrical terminal may be provided on the target illuminator 116 for an external switch. Such external switch may be a familiar tape switch or another external switch on the weapon 115.

[0084] According to FIG. 7, such external switch may be of a bilateral design 50 having switch elements 51 and 52 on either side of the weapon 115 for easy access and convenient actuation. A switch element mount 53 that also comprises electrical leads to and from the switch elements extends from a switch terminal 54 to such elements 51 and 52. For such and similar switch configurations, reference may, for example, be had to U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,594, by Bernie E. Bjornsen, III, Dr. Peter Hauk, and Dr. John W. Matthews, for Ergonomic Electrical Current Switching Systems, issued Aug. 5, 1997 to Laser Products Ltd., and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0085] The illustrated target illuminator 116 also includes a compartment 55 for an electric power source, such as a battery 261 composed of battery elements 262 and 263. In similarity to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, these may be individually jacketed battery elements that are individually insertable into and non-destructively removable from a battery elements carrier 268. In principle, three or more such individually jacketed battery elements may be employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 9. However, such embodiment is illustrated as using two battery elements 262 and 263.

[0086] In similarity to the individually jacketed battery elements 62, 63, 64 in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4, the battery elements 262 and 263 in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 9 each has an individual positive terminal 82, 83, and an opposite individual negative terminal 85, 86. The battery elements carrier 268 has a positive common terminal 70 and a spaced negative common terminal 71. As in FIGS. 2 to 5, common positive and negative terminals 70 and 71 are shown at opposite sides of the carrier 268. However, common positive and negative terminals may be on the same side, such as shown at 87 and 71, respectively in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0087] The individually jacketed battery elements 262 and 263 are individually insertable side by side into the carrier 268. The individual positive terminals 82 and 83 of such battery elements are at one side of the carrier 268, and the opposite individual negative terminals 85 and 86 of these battery elements are at another side of that carrier. The individually jacketed battery elements 262 and 263 are non-destructively individually removable from the carrier 268. Electrical circuitry interconnects such individual terminals 82, 83, 85, 86 between positive and negative common terminals 70 and 71. Within the scope of the invention as presently conceived, the individually jacketed battery elements 262 and 263 may be electrically connected in parallel or in series. Similar techniques as in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 to 5 may be employed if series-connection of the battery elements 262 and 263 is desired.

[0088] In this or any other manner within the scope of the invention, individually supported current pickup contacts 166 and 266 may be electrically connected to the common positive terminal 70, while individually supported opposite current pickup contacts 167 and 267 may be electrically connected to the common negative terminal, if parallel connection of the battery elements 262 and 263 is desired. Conversely, only one current pickup contact 166 may be connected to the common positive terminal, and only one current pickup contact 267 may be connected to the common negative terminal 71. In such arrangement, the other current pickup contact 167 is electrically connected in series with the other current pickup contact 266, whereby the battery elements 262 and 263 are electrically connected in series between the common positive and negative terminals 70 and 71 when such battery elements are inserted into the carrier 268 between pickup contacts 166 and 167 and 266 and 267, respectively, with both positive terminals 82 and 83 contacting the current pickup contacts 166 and 266.

[0089] It may be noted that the three embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 have generic features. All three concern electric apparatus as or with an electric battery 61, 161, 261 of individually jacketed battery elements such as shown at 62, 63, 64, 162, etc., 262, 263, each having an individual positive terminal and an opposite individual negative terminal, in a battery elements carrier 68, 168, 268 having a positive common terminal and a separate negative common terminal.

[0090] Such individually jacketed battery elements 62, 63, 64, 162, etc., 262, 263 are individually insertable side by side into their carrier 68, 168 and 268, respectively, with the individual positive terminals of such battery elements oriented toward a first side of their carrier, and the individual negative terminals of such battery elements oriented toward an opposite second side of such carrier. These individually jacketed battery elements are non-destructively individually removable from their carrier in all three embodiments. Electrical circuitry interconnects the individual terminals between the positive and negative common terminals in each carrier 62, 162, 262. FIG. 7 shows basic structure of the battery elements carrier 268 and FIGS. 8 and 9 show parts and components added to that basic structure according to embodiments of the invention.

[0091] All three carriers 62, 162 and 262 preferably are laterally open for removal and insertion of the individually jacketed elements 62, 63, 64, 162, etc., 262, 263, respectively.

[0092] One of the common terminals, such as the common positive terminal 70, for instance, may be electrically connected to the internal switch 113 or for that matter to the external switch 50 so that the battery current for the target illuminator may be switched by the user, such as in the manner described above. A switch input lead 276 is shown in FIG. 9 as leading from the common positive terminal 70 to the switch 113 for the switching of battery current. A switch output lead 277 is shown in FIG. 9 as leading from the switch 113 to the lamp 90 or to another electrically energized light source in the target illuminator.

[0093] Such lamp or light source also may have a bezel threaded on a lamp support 258 of the target illuminator 116 or its battery housing 55 that receives the battery elements carrier 268.

[0094] In similarity to conventional flashlights, past target illuminators have provided access for batteries to the battery compartment through unscrewing of a component threaded to such battery compartment. For instance, a conventional approach to battery replacement in a prior-art target illuminator of the general type shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 would be to unscrew the lamp housing or bezel 94 and to remove and insert batteries through the then open threaded lamp housing support 258.

[0095] The preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 avoids such prior-art approach and thereby avoids the kind of damage and light source misalignment that occurred in prior-art systems where the lamp housing was continually unscrewed from the lamp housing support for battery replacement.

[0096] In this respect and in general, FIGS. 6 and 7 disclose electric apparatus including an electric battery of individually jacketed battery elements 262 and 263, for instance. A housing structure 55 for the electric battery 261 has a lateral opening 156, such as seen in FIG. 7. A battery housing cover 270 is on that lateral opening of such housing structure for the battery. An electric lamp assembly 94/258 is on that housing structure 155 and is connectable to the battery or batteries in such housing structure, such as in the manner disclosed above by reference to the other drawings.

[0097] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the housing structure 155 has a front 271 and a rear 272. The lateral opening 156 is between such front and rear. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the electric lamp assembly 258/94 is on the front 271 and the battery housing cover 270 is on the lateral opening 156 between the housing structure front and rear. The lamp assembly may include a light bulb and reflector assembly 295, such as shown in FIG. 7, which may be similar to the assembly 95 shown in FIG. 10. Reference may in this respect also be had to the lamp component 95 with parts 90, 96 and 100 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0098] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the battery housing cover 270 advantageously is slideable on the housing structure 155 over its lateral opening 156. Such slideable configuration preferably includes a track-and-slide combination on the housing structure at lateral opening 156 and on the battery housing cover, such as in the form of one or more tracks 273 in the housing structure 155 and one or more corresponding slides 274 in the slideable battery housing cover 270.

[0099] Each of the battery elements carriers 68, 168 and 268 is laterally open for receiving the individually jacketed battery elements for the electric battery 61, 161 and 261, respectively, and the housing structure 155 is adapted to receive such battery elements carrier through such lateral opening.

[0100] Various features and aspects of the invention herein disclosed may be combined with each other to provide, for instance, the various combinations disclosed in or with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10.

[0101] Moreover, this extensive disclosure will render apparent or suggest to those skilled in the art various further modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. In electric apparatus including an electric battery of individually jacketed battery elements, the improvement comprising in combination: a housing structure for said electric battery having a lateral opening; a battery housing cover on said lateral opening of said housing structure for said electric battery; and an electric lamp assembly on said housing structure and connectable to said electric battery.
 2. The electric apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said housing structure has a front and a rear; said lateral opening is between said front and said rear; said electric lamp assembly is on said front; and said battery housing cover is on said lateral opening between said front and said rear.
 3. The electric apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said battery housing cover is slideable on said housing structure over said lateral opening.
 4. The electric apparatus as in claim 3, including: a track-and-slide combination on said housing structure at said lateral opening and on that battery housing cover.
 5. The electric apparatus as in claim 1, including: a battery elements carrier laterally open for receiving said individually jacketed battery elements for said electric battery; said housing structure adapted to receive said battery elements carrier through said lateral opening.
 6. In electric apparatus including an electric battery of individually jacketed battery elements each having an individual positive terminal and an opposite individual negative terminal, the improvement comprising in combination: a battery elements carrier having a positive common terminal and a separate negative common terminal; said individually jacketed battery elements individually insertable side by side into said carrier, with the individual positive terminals of said battery elements oriented toward a first side of said carrier, and the individual negative terminals of said battery elements oriented toward an opposite second side of said carrier, and said individually jacketed battery elements non-destructively individually removable from said carrier; electrical circuitry interconnecting said individual terminals between said positive and negative common terminals; a housing structure for said electric battery having a lateral opening; a battery housing cover on said lateral opening of said housing structure for said electric battery; and an electric lamp assembly on said housing structure and connectable to said electric battery.
 7. The electric apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said housing structure has a front and a rear; said lateral opening is between said front and said rear; said electric lamp assembly is on said front; and said battery housing cover is on said lateral opening between said front and said rear.
 8. The electric apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said battery housing cover is slideable on said housing structure over said lateral opening.
 9. The electric apparatus as in claim 8, including: a track-and-slide combination on said housing structure at said lateral opening and on said battery housing cover.
 10. In an electric battery of individually jacketed battery elements each having an individual positive terminal and an opposite individual negative terminal, the improvement comprising in combination: a battery elements carrier having a positive common terminal and a separate negative common terminal, and first and second compartments between opposite sides of said battery elements carrier; first ones of said individually jacketed battery elements individually insertable side by side into said first compartment, with individual positive terminals of said first battery elements being at the same side in said first compartment, and individual negative terminals of said first battery elements being at an opposite side in said first compartment; second ones of said individually jacketed battery elements individually insertable side by side into said second compartment, with individual positive terminals of said second battery elements being at the same side in said second compartment, and individual negative terminals of said second battery elements being at an opposite side in said second compartment; all individually jacketed battery elements non-destructively individually removable from said compartments; and electrical circuitry interconnecting said individual terminals between said positive and negative common terminals.
 11. The electric battery as in claim 10, wherein: said first and second compartments are in series between said opposite sides of said battery elements carrier.
 12. The electric battery as in claim 10, wherein: said first and second compartments are laterally open for removal and insertion of all individually jacketed elements.
 13. The electric battery as in claim 11, including: a further common terminal on said carrier; and an electric circuit interconnecting said further common terminal with one of said terminals. 